Electrically-operated self-leveling marine table.



PATENTED OUT. 22. 1907.

V 0. w. LAS'KAY. ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED SELF LEVELING MARINE TABLE.

I 4 BHEETS-SHEBT APPLIUATIOH FILED 00129. 1906.

PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

APILIOATION FILED OUT. 9. 1906.

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PATENTED 001 22. 1907.

o. w. LASKAY. ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED SELF LEVELING MARINE TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 9. 1905.

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ELEGTRIG'ALLY OPERATED SELF LEVBLING MARINE'TABLE. APPLICATION FILED 001 .9(1905.

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CLARENCE WILBUR LASKAY, OF NEW YORK, Nv Y.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED SELF-LEVELING MARINE TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed October 9, 1905. Serial No. 281,905.

Figure l is a side elevation of the table, parts being broken away to clearly show its construction. Fig. 2 a side elevation of the motor reversing gravity switch; Fig. .i an end elevation of said switch; Fig. 4 a detail vertical sectional view of one of the contact points of said switch; Fig. 5 a transverse sectional view showing the table in end elevation the steamer deck and the table being level; Fig. ('5 a similar view showing main deck on an incline and the table level; Fig. 7 a transverse sectional view through the table and a supplementary deck which carries the table; Fig. 8 a detail side elevation of one of the standards for supporting the table and supplenientary deck; Fig. 9 a longitudinal vertical sectional view of one end of the table and one of its supporting standards; Fig. 10 a detail perspective view of one end of one of the deck guards; Fig. l1 a (letail perspective view showing one of the leveling heads and its guiding bar; Fig. 12 a diagrammatic view showing the circuits of the motor reversing gravity switch; Fig. '13 an end elevation of the table showing the gravity switch arranged to operated the motor through a pair of motor controlling solenoids; and Fig. 14 a detail view of one of the solenoids.

One of the many objects of this invention is to provide a. sell leveling marine table which will maintain itself level by positively actuated mechanism during the rolling of a ship.

Another object of the invention is to provide electrical means which will be set in motion automatically to positively maintain the table and the supplementary deck carryingit, level, and which will be automatically stopped when the table and deck is level.

A further objeetol' the invention is to provide a gravity operating motor reversing switch which will start an electric motor in the proper direction to level the table, and which will cut out the motor the instant the table has been returmid to its normal level position.

A further objectof the invention is to interpose between said gravity operated switch and the motor, a motor starting solenoid, or a pair of said solenoids if desired, whereby the motor may be controlled by a very light auxiliary circuit.

Other equally important objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the foregoing being merely recited as showing some of the general features of the invention, and with no intention of specifying them as the only or mostiniportant objects thereof.

the I of self-leveling marine tables patented to l. H. Laskey, No. 604,831, dated May 31, 1898.

In the annexed drawings 1 have shown one embodiment of my invention, but I desire it understood that this form is shown merely by way of illustration and not with the intention of limiting it to the lorm shown, as many changes may be made in the construction of the apparatus which will be within the scope of the invention.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, designates the deck of a steamship: 2 a supplementary deck supported a short distance above the steamship deck; 3 a table supported upon the supplementary deck; and 4 I the chairs also mounted on the supplementary deck.

On the steamship deck or main deck, as I shall hereinalter term it, are rigidly belted main standards 5. These standards are in the lorm of upward extending arches and carry at their upperends a horizontal longitudinally extending main suspending bar 6. This bar may or may not be rigid in its bearings as desired. but I prefer to rigidly mount it. Mounted to rotate on this bar are suspending standards 7 which extend above and below said bar, said standards being provided at.

their lower ends with feet 8, and at their upper ends with horizontal supporting bars 9. The table 3 is mounted on these bars 9. Connecting the standards together near their lower ends, just above the test 8, is a longitudinally extending horizontal tie-rod 10, said rod being parallel with the main supporting rod 6 and directly below it. On this tie-rod are mounted transverse supplementary deck beams 11, one oi said beams being located adjacent to each suspending standard 7. These deck beams are connected to the standard '7, slightly above the suspending bar 6, by the inward and upward extending links 12. The supplementary deck 2 is rigidly secured to the deck beams 11. This supplementary deck may extend beyond the main supporting standards 5, if desired, slots 2" being formed therein through which'the said standards extend.

The parts are so proportioned that the supplementary deck is supported a suitable distance above the main deck, the space between the two decks being preferably large enough to receive a small electric motor 13 and the mechanism to be operated thereby. This mechanism consists of a longitudinally extending main operating shaft 14 provided with worms 15. worms engage small worm-gears 16 mounted on transverse Worm-shafts 1.7, which are journaled in bearings supported by the main standards 5 and directly below the suspending standards 7. Mounted on each of these Worm-shafts are two internally threaded leveling heads 18, one of which is on each side of a vertical plane pass ing longitudinally through the-suspending bar 6 and the tie-rod 10. The leveling heads of each shaft are connected to the foot 8 of the adjacent suspending The invention relates to improvements in that class standard 7 by links 19, said heads being guided by a These horizontal bar 20, which is embraced by the said heads. This bar is secured at its ends to the bearings in which the leveling shafts 17 are mounted. It will be noted that by employing the screw shafts for rotating the table on the bar 6, said table and the supplementary deck will always be locked in position so that the weight thereon will not affect it. This is important as passengers must be free to move about on the supplementary deck and to leave it or to step upon it at any time and at any point.

By means of the apparatus shown and described, the supplementary deck is always locked to such an extent as to prevent it being rotated on its bearings by any weight that may be placed thereon, while at the same time it is always free to be rotated in either direction by means of the leveling apparatus.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that by driving the motor in the proper direction the table may be tilted to the desired angle with respect to the main deck. It will also readily be seen that when the main deck inclines in one direction the motor must be driven in a certain direction to maintain the table and supplementary deck horizontal, and that when the main deck inclines in the opposite direction the motor must be reversed in order to maintain the supplementary deck and table level. 1, therefore, have provided automatic operating means for starting, stopping and reversing the motor so that the supplementary deck, and whatever may be carried by it, will be maintained level at all times. This is accomplished by an automatically operating motor reversing and controlling switch preferably mounted upon the table or on the supplementary deck.

Secured to the bottom of the table 3, near one end thereof, is a switch plate 21 carrying two sets of contacts, one set being near each end thereof. Each of these contacts consists of a depending socket 22 in which is mounted a reciprocable plug 23, said plug being provided with a pin 24 which projects through the slot 25 in the socket. The socket is secured to the switch plate by means of a binding post 26', and a coil spring 27 is interposed between the head of the binding post and the upper end of the plug 23, said spring yieldingly holding the said head projected beyond the lower end of the socket 22. The circuit wires are connected to the binding posts as shown. Secured to the switch plate is a pair of depending hangers 28 in the lower ends of which is mounted a rock shaft 29. On this rock shaft is rigidly secured a sleeve 30 which carries a depending arm 30, on the lower end of which is a very heavy weight 3l. The sleeve 3W also carries the switch arm 32 which is preferably made of hard fiber or other non-conducting material. Mounted in each end of this switch arm is a pair of contacts 33 which are arranged to contact with the adjacent contact plugs 23 carried by the switch plate.

The battery, or generator, and the motor are so connected to the contact points on the switch arm and to the contact plugs that when the switch arm is swung in one direction to bring one set of contacts into engagement the motor will be driven in one direction, and when the switch arm is swung in the other direction to bring the other set of contacts into engagement the motor will be reversed and driven in the opposite direction. The contact plugs 23 are yieldably mountseasm ed in order that a good contact may be made by the contacts 33 carried by the switch arm. The switch plate 21 is preferably made of hard fiber or other nonconducting material so that the binding posts 27 and sockets 22 will be insulated from each other. This form of reversing switch will be used when the motor current is carried directly to the switch. I prefer however, to use the form of motor control illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. In this form of the apparatus the switch arm carries only one contact at each of its ends and only one contact plug is carried at each end of the switch plate. The wires from the switch contacts are carried to motor starting solenoids to 35 which may be of any suitable construction. The circuits are so arranged that when one pair of switch contacts are in engagement one of the solenoids will be energized and the motor circuit completed thereby to drive the mo tor in the proper direction to bring the table to a level position, the other pair of switch contacts being connected to the other motor starting solenoid which is in the motor circuit and is arranged to reverse the motor. Each pair of contacts carried by each solenoid is provided with carbon breaking points 36 which are mounted upon spring plates 37 and are arranged to engage carbon contacts 38 before the metallic contacts engage each other, these carbon points being the last to separate when the current through the solenoid is inter rupted. By this means sparking is avoided between the metallic contacts.

By the use of the solenoid motor starter a very light current may be used through the switch contacts. This is very desirable as there will be no flash or sparking at the switch and the comparatively heavy motor current may be carried on heavily insulated wires between the supplementary and main decks. Surrounding the supplementary deck and closing the space between said deck and the main deck is a platform 4.0 whose top is at the normal level of the supplementary deck. To reach the supplementary deck steps 40 are provided at the edge of the platform. To guard the opening between the supplementary deck and the top of the platform surrounding it at that edge of the supplementarydeck which is raised above the platform, 1 provide guards 40 which normally are at rest at their lower edges on the main deck and are held between guides 41. These guards are provided at their upper edge with. hooks 42 which are adapted to be engaged by loops 43 secured to the side edges of the supplementary deck. When the supplementary deck is parallel with the main deck the guards are both below the supplementary deck and are at rest on the main deck, as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 7. When, however, the supplementary deck is at an angle with respect to the main deck one of the guards will be suspended on the loops 43 and held above the platform, as shown in Fig. 6, so that it will be impossible for a passengers feet to be caught between the edge of the supplementary deck and the edge of the platform. This is important because it would be a serious disadvantage if there were any danger of a passenger being hurt by the apparatus.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that l provide a marine table and supplementary deck which will be maintained level during-the rolling of the ship and the consequent changing angle of the main deck.

The motor controlling switch will be very sensitive; the space between the contact points 01' the switch being very slight, so that the motor will be quickly started in the proper direction whenever the supplementary deck or table varies slightly from the horizontal.

It will be understood that the steamship rolls very slowly and that consequently there will be no chattering oi the switch arnn The weight 31 will be of such size that it will rock, the shalt 29 slowly in response to the slow movement of the ship. The motor therefore, will not be reversed until the angle of the ships deck is changed sulliciently to swing the weight and bring the other pair of contacts into engagement.

While this .tppaiatus is shown as designed for a dining table, it will he understood that any :l'orm of table may be placed upon the supplementary deck, and that said deck may be provided [or chairs only. it will also be understood that these supplementary decks may be placed whenev r desired on the main decks and be adapted to receive the ordinary steamer chairs; and that berths and oven entire state rooms or appaatns may be placed thereon.

Having thus iully (1(l'i('l'i.i)(j(l my invention what I claim as new and desire to receive by Letters Patent, is:-

l. A self-leveling marine table comprising a supple menial-y deck. a table carried thereby, a rotary motor. positive means connecting lhe motor to said snpplemenl'ary deck and an automatically operating motor controlling device carried by the supplementary deck and adapled to siarl. stop and reverse the motor.

2. A seli leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a supplementary deck, means for pivotally supporting said deck. a rotary motor, posilive mechanical means connect ing said lnolor to said deck whereby said deck may be maintained level by said motor, and automatically operaia ing motor controlling device acting in response to changes in inclination in said supplementary deck to start, stop and reverse the motor.

A self-leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a main deck, a supplementary deck supported upon the main deck. a rolary eleclric motor, positive mechanical means connecting said motor to the supplementary deck to maintain said deck level. and an automatic motor controb ling electric switch acting to start the motor when the main deck is inclined and to stop the motor when the sup plemenlary deck is level.

--l. A self-leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a supplementary deck pivoially mounted, a main deck, a rotary electric motor, positive mechanical means connect ing said molor to said su mlemeniary deck and an autonnitically operating electric controlling device carried by the supplementary deck aud adapted to start the motor when the supplemenlary deck is inclined in one direction and lo stop the motor when the supplementary deck is level.

5. A selflcveling apparatus lfor steamships comprising a supplementary deck. a main deck, means for piyotally supporting the supplementary deck above the main deck, a rotary electric motor, positive mechanical means connecting said motor to the supplementary deck to maintain said deck level and an automatically operating electric motor control carried by the supplementary deck and adapted to start, slop or reverse the motor according to the position of the supplementary deck to maintain said deck level due ing the varying inclinaiion of ihe main deck.

(i. A self-lending apparalus for steamships comprising a main deck, a. supporting means adapted to be maintained level. a rotary ole ric m tor connected to said supporting means by positive mecmnical means. an electric controlling device connected to said motor and adapted to start, stop and reverse the moior to maintain said supporting moans level.

below the supplementarydeck, a leveling head mounted on,

each ol. said worm shafts. means connecting said leveling heads to the supplementary dock at the longitudinal center thereof. a main operating shaft, a motor for rotating ii, means connecting the main shaft to the transverse worm snails and means for controlling the motor.

9, A self-leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a main deck, standards thereon. a supplementary deck rotatably supported on said standards and above the main deck, transverse worm shafts mounted on the main deck below the supplementary deck, a leveling head mounted on each of said worm shafts, means connectin said leveling heads to the supplemeni'ary deck at the loo ;udinal center ihoreolf, a main operaiing shaft, a motor 'lfor rotating it. means connecting the main shaft to the transverse worm shaft, and means for controlling the motor.

10, A self-leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a support, a supporting bar mounted in said support, indopemlent suspending stainlards rotatably mounted on said bar, supplementary deck carried by said standards near their lower end, a transverse worm shaft, a leveling head mounted on said worm shaft, means connecting said leveling head to the sup ileinenl'ary deck at the longitudinal center thereof, a motor, a main driving shaft adapted to be rotated by said motor, means connecting the main driv ing shaft to the transverse worm shaft, and an automatic ally operating motor-controlling device carried by the supplementary deck and adapted to start, stop and reve we the motor accordi1 to the varying inclination of the supple mental-y deck.

11. A self-leveling apparatus for stcamships comprising a main (leek, standards carried thereby. a horizontal supporting bar carried by said standards, depending sustaiir ing standards rotainbly mounted on said bar, a supplementary deck carried by said standards near their lower ends and above the main deck. a motor. means [or connecting said motor to the supplementiu-y deck. means for antomaiically controlling the opera iion oi the motor according to the varying inclination of the supplementary deck, a platform surrounding the supplemenl'ary deck, and guards adapted to be supported by the supplementary deck when said dockis inclined with respect to the main deck to close the opening between the said supplementary deck and the surrormding plattorm.

12. A self-leveling apparatus for sleamships comprising a supplementarydeck roiatably supported, means automatically controlled by the varying inclination of the supplementary deck to r urn said deck to its normal level position, and automatically detachable guards carried by said supplementary deck to close the opening between said simplcmeni'aiy deck and the surrounding structure and adapted to be detached ifrom the supplemental deck when the edge therooi is depressed below its normal level.

13. A self-leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a main deck, standards thereon, a supporting bar carried by said standards, suspending standards rotatably mounted on said bar. a supplementary deck carried by said suspending standards near their lower ends and above the main deck. said standards extending above the suppm'ting bar, a table mounted on the upper ends of said siandards, chairs carried by said sup 'ilementary deck, a transverse worm shaft carried by the main deck below the supplementary deck, a leveling head mounted on said worm shaft, means connecting said leveling head to the supplementary deck at the longitudinal center thereof, a main driving shaft, a motor connected to said shaft and means carried by the table for automatically starting. stopping and reversing the motor according to the variations in the inclination of the main deck with respect to the sup- 14. A self-leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a main deck, standards thereon, a supporting bar carried by said standards. suspending standards rotatably mounted on said bar, a supplementary deck carried by said suspending standards near their lower ends and above the main deck, said standards extending above the supporting bar, a table mounted on the upper ends of said standards. chairs carried by said supplementary deck, a transverse worm shaft carried by the inain deck below the supplementary deck. a pair of levelim, heads mounted on said worm shat't,

links connecting said heads to the su mleincntary deck at' the longitudinal center thereoi,'a main driving shaft, a motor connected to said shaft, and means carried by the table for automatically starting, stopping and reversing the motor according to the variations in the incll nation of the main deck with respect to the supplementary deck.

15. A self-leveling apparatus [or steam-ships con'iprisine' a main decka supplementary deck mounted to swing on its supports. a motor a motor-controlling device operated by the varying inclination of the main deck, positive mechanical means connecting the motor to the supplementary deck whereby the motor may swing said supplementary deck on its support, said means serving to positively lock said deck gaiust independent rotary movement, whereby said deck will be locked except as it may he moved by the motor.

16. A self-leveling apparatus for steam-ships comprising a main deck. a supporting means adapted to be maintained level. a motor, rotary unyieldingmeans connectingsaid motor to said supporting means, means responding to variations in inclination of the supporting means to stop, start, and reverse the motor to maintain said supporting means level during the varying inclination of the main deck, the means connecting the motor to the supporting; means serving as a lock to hold said supporting means against movement except as it may be moved by the motor.

17. A self-leveling apparatus for steamships comprising a main deck, a supporting means pivotally mounted and adapted to be maintained level, a rotary electric motor, positive mechanical means flexibly connecting said motor to said deck, whereby said motor will be at all times directly and positively connected to said deck, and automatically operating electric controlling devices connected to said motor to control the How of current thereto, to start, stop and reverse the motor in response to changes in the inclination of the supplementary (leek and to operate said motor to maintain said deck level.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this 5th day of October 1905.

CLARENCE WILBUR LASKAY.

Witnesses WM. 1}. DAVIS, E. CAUGIILAN. 

